A CYCLIST who was left bleeding to death after severing the main artery in his neck looks like making an astonishing recovery.

The unlucky victim, an unnamed 51-year-old from Whitchurch, slashed his carotid artery in an accident involving a stationary vehicle.

The man was riding along High Street in Malpas shortly before 10am on Saturday when the collision happened.

It is believed a female motorist, who had parked her car at the side of High Street, opened her car door into the path of the cyclist.

Members of the public, which fortunately included Malpas GP Dr Michael Price, Whitchurch physiotherapist Campbell MacKellar and cardiologist Dr Richard Cowell, rushed to help the man who was bleeding heavily from a neck injury.

Their intervention, which managed to staunch the blood gushing from his neck until paramedics arrived, prevented him bleeding to death on the spot.

Mr Eyre said: 'It was just one of those very unfortunate fluke accidents. The gentleman was coming up High Street on a cycle, but we didn't see it all, the next thing we knew a lady in a car was appealing for help.'

Police say the 37-year-old female, who is from Malpas, was parked correctly when the collision occurred.

Mr Eyre, chairman of a working group set up in conjunction with Malpas Parish Council to look at traffic issues in the village, added: 'We are looking at parking as an ongoing problem and are in discussions with the Highways department.

Mr Eyre believes a combination of factors helped to save the cyclist, who was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital for emergency surgery.

The man is now recovering at home, after being released from hospital on Tuesday. Dr Price, who works at New Surgery on Laurel Bank, was on the scene in minutes and together with Mr MacKellar, who has a practice in Whitchurch, helped to stem the flow of blood.

n Police say they would still like any witnesses who have not come forward to contact Constable Graham Southern at Chester Traffic Unit on 01244 350222.